“On March 7, 1942, fire engulfed the simple home of 89-year-old Lucy Gonzales Parsons on Chicago’s North Troy Street, and ended a life dedicated to liberating working women and men of the world from capitalism and racial oppression. A dynamic, militant, self-educated public speaker and writer, she became the first American woman of color to carry her crusade for socialism across the country and overseas. Lucy Gonzales started life in Texas. She was of Mexican American, African American, and Native American descent and born into slavery. The path she chose after emancipation led to conflict with the Ku Klux Klan, hard work, painful personal losses, and many nights in jail.

…Lucy Parsons’ determined effort to elevate and inspire the oppressed to take command remained alive among those who knew, heard, and loved her. But few today are aware of her insights, courage, and tenacity.”

—From a profile of Lucy Gonzales Parsons (1853–1942). By William Loren Katz.

It’s here once again. The day on which we declare ourselves undocumented, unafraid, and unapologetic is just around the corner. –NIYA

This week is National Undocumented Youth Coming Out Week! The National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA)—an undocumented youth-led coalition of groups and individuals committed to achieving equality for all immigrant youth—has put together resources and support for those planning on coming out. NIYA posted this on their website:

We know that coming out as undocumented is not easy. We know because we’ve been there. For many it’s terrifying experience, but it’s also a very empowering and liberating one. And you are not alone! This year, just like every year, hundreds of thousands of DREAMers, just like yourself, are making the decision to come out with you. Together, we are coming out of the shadows….

You can check out NIYA’s the Guide to Coming Out for undocumented youth and find out more about resources for advocacy here.
Also, on Friday, March 16, the New York State Youth Leadership Council will host a rally in Union Square in New York where people will share their stories together. For more information, visit their website.

Feminist collective For the Birds will discuss the ways that gender informs their curatorial and activist practice, and their understanding of “safer spaces,” as well as how their scholarly journeys have been reflected in their own community-building experience.

This week Racialicious posted a piece about a black trans woman who has been arrested and charged with 2nd degree murder after she and her friends were violently attacked by a group of white people who were yelling racist and transphobic epithets. A woman smashed a glass into CeCe’s face and, according to Racialicious,

A fight ensued between the adults and the young people after this initial attack and one of the attackers, Dean Schmitz, was fatally stabbed.

As if it were not sufficiently tragic that a group of young people were subjected to such severe violence and that Dean Schmitz lost his life, police arriving at the scene arrested CeCe, denied her adequate medical treatment, interrogated her for hours, and placed her in solitary confinement. In the aftermath of being attacked, she was not treated with care, but launched into another nightmare. The only person arrested that night, she has since been charged with two counts of 2nd degree murder. Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman has the power to drop these charges, a choice he made in multiple other clear instances of self-defense this year, but he has not yet done so.

CeCe’s story is a portrait of the United States Criminal Justice System. Her story is what is meant when we are told that transgender people, especially transgender women of color, experience disproportionate rates of police harassment, profiling, and abuse. She is living one of the stories rolled into statistics like: trans people are ten to fifteen times more likely to be incarcerated than cisgender (not transgender) people, or nearly half of African American transgender people have spent time in jail or prison.

Please take a moment to read the full Racialicious article here, and visit http://supportcece.wordpress.com/ to get updates on the case. To tell Michael Freeman you support dropping the charges against CeCe, call 612-348-5561 or email citizeninfo@co.hennepin.mn.us

The folks at Dream Activist have launched a campaign to stop the deportation of Yanelli Hernandez. Yanelli came to the United States as a 13-year-old and is set to be deported TOMORROW, TUESDAY, JANUARY 31! Yanelli almost took her life while being held in detention by ICE and what she needs is treatment. According to Dream Activist:

Yanelli’s case is urgent, we only have until Tuesday to stop her deportation. Yanelli came to the United States all by herself when she was 13, this means that, if deported, she won’t have anyone to support her.

We need your help to get Yanelli out, she needs to be at home with her family receiving treatment. Things are not looking good for her, ICE has already moved her to a different location. . . the last stop for detainees before they are deported. We pretty much have 1 day to stop Yanelli’s deportation.

Hello I am calling to ask that Yanelli Hernadez (A# 205 012 525) be allowed to stay in the U.S. where she needs treatment. Yanelli is suffering from depression; she has attempted to take her own life twice and should not be deported. This is wrong.

Check out some of the posters from the 99%! Occuprint is a poster series with works from around the world, curated by Molly Fair, Jesse Goldstein, Josh MacPhee and John Boy. They provide free online & print posters and are continuing to expand. Click here to see their website, and if you have the means, you can consider making a donation soon!